"I think people heard about last year's event and really wished they had participated," she said.

"We've had a great turn out we've promoted it with community and with staff members."

Ms Strang says participants were drawn from diverse cultural backgrounds with many contributing a named 'hand' for the Sea of Hands display.

"So there are people who are born in Australia obviously but there are people from all over the world who have come to settle in the Illawarra who now call the Illawarra home and they're here to walk for reconciliation," she said.

"Many different sections in TAFE and the university have joined together to make the event what it is today."